Bottle handling device



E. JOHNSON BOTTLE HANDLING DEVICE Oct. 13, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1951 INVENTOR Efiner Johnson ATTORNEY Oct. 13, 1953 E. JOHNSON BOTTLE HANDLING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1951 INVENTOR Elmer .b/mson MJL ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle lifts of the character used for lifting empty beverage bottles from cases into the soaker of a bottling plant.

Beverage bottles usually are brought to the bottling plant. in cases in which they are supported in rows and from which cases they must be lifted or separated to transfer them to the bottle soaker. This lifting of the bottles out of the cases is a hand operation involving the manual grasping and removal of the bottles from the cases.

Many different forms of bottle handling devices have been proposed heretofore for use in lifting the bottles out of the cases to the soaker, but for the most part these have been unsatisfactory. Those which are made of metal wear in use and are often heavy to lift. The use of springs in the gripping mechanism has been unsatisfactory because of corrosion and ineffective gripping of the bottles. Complex structures often are involved, which have rendered the lifts expensive to build and ineffective in service. Many of these have resulted in breakage of the glass bottles, which is a serious problem in bottling plants.

One object of this invention is to improve the construction of bottle lifts for this purpose, to enable these to be manufactured inexpensively, without complex grasping mechanism, to be light in weight, and free of glass breakage to a maximum degree.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the construction of a bottle lift with a, wedge lock that requires no grip in lifting the bottles and no springs for movement of the operating part, and which will effectively and simply grasp the bottles for a lifting action with few moving parts.

These objects may be accomplished, according to certain embodiments of the invention, by providing a pair of coacting bars, relatively movable, to embrace the necks of a row of bottles that are to be lifted out of the case to the soaker. These bars are relatively moved to a clamping relation with the bottles by wedging means actuated without springs or an excess number of moving parts. It is preferred that the lift be provided with two pairs of gripping devices, one on each side, so as to engage and lift two rows of bottles at the same time. Both lift devices may be actuated by a single wedging means interposed therebetween that is simple and effective and which functions merely by the action of the operator in lifting the device for engaging the lifting means With the bottles.

This embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: l

Fig. l is a perspective View of the device, shown in its supporting relation to the bottles;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section therethrough on the line 3--3 in Fig. 2, showing the lifting means in its disengaged position;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the lifting means in engaged or lifting position;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section therethrough on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the mid portion of the lifting unit showing a, modification of the construction.

The bottle lift illustrated as an embodiment of the invention in Figs. 1 to 5 comprises upright end plates I, spaced apart at suitable distances according to the number of bottles to be handled by the lift. These plates 1 are connected together at the top by a hand rail or spacer 2,

interposed therebetween and held in secured relation with respect thereto, not only for spacing the end plates apart, but also for securing the latter in fixed relation to each other. In the embodiment illustrated the hand rail or spacer 2 has reduced ends fitted into sockets in the inner faces of the end plates l and are secured thereto by adhesive or by screw fastenings 3, or other suitable fastening means.

Interposed between the facing sides of the end plates I, adjacent the lower edges thereof, are side bars 4, secured in fixed relation to the end Plates i. In the embodiment illustrated sockets 5 are provided in the inner faces of the end plates and receive therein the extreme ends of the side bars 4, within which sockets these ends are secured by adhesive or other suitable fastening means. In the form shown, these side bars 4 are elongated transversely in cross-section, as viewed in Figs. 3 to 5, and are arranged in converging oblique positions with respect to the uprightlongitudinal plane through the lift whereby the side bars tend to guide the necks of the bottles into the lift for supporting the bottles thereby.

Arranged in cooperating relation with the side bars 4, and spaced inwardly therefrom, are lifting bars or gates 6, which latter extend lengthwise of the lift device between the end plates I. The lifting bars 6 are mounted on the end plates I, for swinging movement toward and from the adjacent side bars 4, so as to cooperate with the latter in engaging and lifting rows of bottles as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Each of the lifting bars 6 has a trunnion 1 on each end thereof adjacent the lower edge, Whichtrunnions are journalled in sockets B in the respective end plates I, so as to the longitudinal axis of said lifting bar under gagement with the bottles, means journaling the lifting bar on the end structures for swinging movement about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lifting bar toward and from the side bar, and lifting means movably connected with the end structures for locking the lifting bar in its clamping relation with the bottles therebetween.

5. A bottle lift comprising upright end structures, a side bar extending between the end structures and fixed thereto, a swingable lifting bar extending between the end structures and spaced from the side bar to receive bottles therebetween and coacting with the side bar in clamping engagement with the bottles, means journaling the lifting bar on the end structures for swinging movement about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lifting bar toward and from the side bar, said side bar and lifting bar being elongated transversely in cross-section and arranged in oblique positions inclined toward each other for guiding the bottles therebetween.

6. A bottle lift comprising a pair of upright end plates having a recess formed in each of their respective opposed sides, a pair of spaced side bars extending between the end plates and fixed thereto, a pair of lifting bars extending between the end plates in side-by-side relation, each of the lifting bars being spaced from an adjacent side bar in position to coact therewith and receive bottles therebetween, trunnions on the lifting bars journaled on the end plates and mounting the lifting bars thereon for swinging movement of the lifting bars in opposite directions about axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said lifting bars, said lifting bars normally swinging toward said side bars in the absence of bottles therebetween, wedges interposed between the lifting bars, a handle slidably mounted in said recesses in the end plates and extending therebetween, and pins connected with the wedges and the handle for moving the wedges relative to the lifting bars upon lifting movement of the handle.

7. A bottle lift comprising a pair of upright end plates having a recess formed in each of their respective opposed sides, a pair of spaced side bars extending between the end plates and aflixed thereto, a pair of lifting bars extending between the end plates in side-by-side relation, each of the lifting bars being spaced from an adjacent side bar in position to coact therewith and receive bottles therebetween, trunnions on the lifting bars journaled on the end plates and mounting the lifting bars thereon for swinging movement of the lifting bars in opposite directions about axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said lifting bars, said side bars and lifting bars being elongated transversely in cross section and arranged in oblique positions inclined toward each other for guiding the bottles therebetween, said lifting bars being mounted for swinging movement automatically toward said side bars in the absence of bottles therebetween, wedges interposed between the lifting bars in bearing relation with respect thereto, a handle slidably mounted in said recesses formed in each of the end plates and extending therebetween,

and means connecting the wedges with. the handle, whereby upon lifting movement of the wedges, said lifting bars are locked in position against said bottles, and upon downward movement of the wedges said wedges force said lifting bars away from said bottles.

8. A bottle lift comprising a pair of upright end plates having substantially rectangular and elongated arcuately-shaped recesses formed in their respective opposed sides, a pair of spaced side bars extending between the end plates and fixed thereto, a pair of lifting bars extending between the end plates in side-by-side relation, each of the lifting bars being spaced from an adjacent side bar in position to coact therewith and receive bottles therebetween, a trunnion extending from each end of each lifting bar and journaled on the respective end plates and mounting the lifting bars thereon for swinging movement of the lifting bars in opposite directions about axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said lifting bars, a second trunnion extending from each end of each lifting bar, said second trunnion being positioned within said arcuate recesses for guiding and sliding movement relative thereto, said side 'bars and lifting bars being elongated transversely in cross section and arranged in oblique positions inclined toward each other for guiding the bottles therebetween, said lifting bars automatically swinging toward the side bars in the absence of bottles therebetween, wedges interposed between the lifting bars, a handle slidably mounted in said rectangular recesses in each of the end plates and extending therebetween, and means connecting the wedges and the handle for moving the wedges to engage and lock the lifting bars against swinging movement away from said side bars upon lifting movement of the handle.

9. A bottle lift comprising a side rail and a gate spaced apart to receive a bottle therebetween, means mounting the side rail laterally inclined toward the gate, means pivotally supporting the gate for swinging movement about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said gate toward and from the side rail to secure the bottle therebetween in one position, and means for limiting the swinging movement of the gate away from the side rail to a position inclined toward the side rail.

10. A bottle lift comprising a side rail and a gate spaced apart to receive a bottle therebetween, means mounting the side rail laterally inclined toward the gate, means pivotally supporting the gate for swinging movement about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said gate toward and from the side rail to secure the bottle therebetween in one position, means for limiting the swinging movement of the gate away from the side rail to a position inclined toward the side rail, and means for locking the gate in the bottle securing position.

11. A bottle lift comprising a pair of spaced end members, a side bar fixed at opposite ends to said end members, a lifting bar extending between the end members and spaced laterally from the side bar, said lifting bar being elongated transversely of the length thereof in an upward direction relative to the lift, means pivotally supporting the lifting bar on the end members in an oblique position inclined toward the side antenna ear and for swin in mov ment; about. an axis. substantially parallel tothe longitudin l axisoi said lifting bartoward and from the side hat said side and lifting bars heme positi ned tor ceive a bottle necle therebetween and the lif in bar being mounted for swingin -m vement away from the side bar upon insertion ofv th bottl neck therehetween and for swingin movement toward the side, bar to hold the bottle n ck t ere: between, and a wedge member in position for locking the Iii-tine oar against swin in movement to. hold th bottle neck. retained betw en the bars.

12. A bottle; lift comprisinga pair of spaced nd members. two pairs of'ciainnine devices ex:

tending between the e d members. in sw ets: side relation, each of the clamping devices eem:

prising a side bar having its ends fixed to the.

end members, a lifting bar spacedlaterally from the side bar and. inwardly therefrom, each of said bars bein elongated transversely. of the l n th thereof in an upward direction relative to the lift, means pivotally sup orting the liftingv bar on the end membersin upwardly inclined relation laterally toward the. adjacent. side bar ndfor swingin movement about an axis sub:

stantiafly parallel to the. longitudinal axis of said lifting bar toward and from the latter, said side and lifting bars being positioned to receive a bottle neek' therebetween and to. clamp1thev 2441494 bottle noel; by' thecswineine movement. of the.

to said end members, a lifting bar. extending.

between the end members and spaced laterally from, the side. bar, each of said bars 'being elongated transversely. of the length thereof in an upward direction relative to the lift, said 1iit= ing; har having trunnions at opposite ends there: of at its lower edge journaled in the end mem-.

bers. and having trunnions at opposite ends there:

of at its upper edge extending into the end mem= hers, said end members having. grooves therein receiving the lastrmentionedtrunnions for-lat; eral swinging movement of the lifting'bartoa ward and frorn'the side bar about the axis of said first-mentioned trunnions, and means. for locking the lifting bar in inwardly clamping re lation relativev to the side bar.

ELMER JQHNSON.

he erentes Qi ed t e le o this sate-iii UNITED STATES, PATENTS Number Name D te T omas at e J ly 8 i-ii her et a Mei il itiii time er -fist; 1 

